Thailand Medical Tourism and Travel Blog Finalist

Three of the ten most popular plastic surgery procedures in Thailand involve female breast enhancement in some form or other. The most popular procedure is breast augmentation but patients also seek breast reduction and breast reshaping/reconstruction too.

Breast enhancement is certainly not a product of the 21st Century although now procedures are simpler and safer than what they were when doctors first experimented at the end of the nineteenth century. Pills, potions and creams claiming to enhance the female breast have been around just as long and you will still find many available in this day and age, offering “natural breast enhancement” without the need for surgery.

However while there may well be a market for these products nowadays surgical breast enhancement is by far the most popular choice of women seeking to change the shape and appearance of their breasts.

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation or breast enlargement as I said above is by far the most sought after treatment in Thailand with most patients seeking it for cosmetic reasons as well as after Sex Reassignment Surgery(SRS) in the country. Breast augmentation involves the use of implants that are inserted into various positions in the breast depending on the procedure chosen but are commonly located between the breast tissue and muscle layer.

The implants that are inserted into the breast contain either a saline solution or silicon gel compound contained in an outer skin. The saline breast implants are inserted into the chest empty and filled after insertion while the silicon implants are inserted already filled. It therefore follows that scars are smaller with saline implants. However results may not be as cosmetically pleasing as with the use of silicon.

As with all surgical procedures there may be side effects from the insertion of breast implants. Those most commonly experienced include breast pain, asymmetry of the breasts, loss of nipple sensation and visible wrinkling particularly with saline inserts.  The ability to breast feed may also be affected.

A  concern within the medical establishment and patients is rupturing of the breast implants. This has led to much debate and opinions being expressed on the subject. One thing is however clear and that is that breast implants do not last forever and may at some point need removal and replacement. It is however less clear exactly what effect either saline or silicon gel leaking into the surrounding body tissue will have on a person with a ruptured breast implant.

Common sense would suggest that anyone considering undergoing breast enhancement should consult with their doctor and weigh up any associated or potential risks against their desire to undergo breast augmentation and the reasons they are seeking this option.

The breast enhancement procedures mentioned in this article were all available at some of the international class hospitals and clinics that I visited in Bangkok on my familiarisation trip that was part of the Thailand Medical Tourism blog contest. You can find out more details of what is on offer by following these links. Yanhee Hospital, Bangkok Hospital,Vejthani Hospital, Bangkok Laser Surgery and Dr Sarans Clinic.

Thailand Trivia File: Did you know that the real name for Wat Pho in Bangkok is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan(วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลารามราชวรมหาวิหาร) this famous temple is located near the Grand Palace.